Super Bowl: One-on-one matchup of the day

Other than Peyton Manning, no player going into this Super Bowl has attracted more attention than Sherman (left). And the duality of his life and persona is reflected in his play. He plays with the ferocity and intensity of the man who is apt to launch a trash-talking tirade against any player in the NFL at any moment. Yet the third-year pro also plays corner with the savvy of the man who is a Stanford University graduate. It’s that combination that has earned Sherman favorable comparisons with Tampa Bay’s Darrelle Revis, even from people not named Richard Sherman. During his rookie season in 2010, Thomas (right) beat Revis for a touchdown in a Denver loss to the Jets. So, he can beat the best. And that was before he had two consecutive breakout years, with 94 receptions for 1,434 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2012 and 92 catches for 1,430 yards and 14 TDs this season. The 6-foot-3 Thomas has the speed to be a vertical threat and also has the leaping ability to take jump balls away from defenders. The ball-hawking Sherman has 20 interceptions in three NFL seasons, including eight each of the last two years. And he also can create turnovers for others, as he demonstrated when he tipped a pass intended for San Francisco’s Michael Crabtree in the end zone. Seattle LB Malcolm Smith caught the deflection to preserve the Seahawks’ victory in the NFC final.